If you’re looking to wish on a shooting star, here’s your chance.
The Perseid meteor shower will peak Wednesday night through Thursday morning, and the show should be even more visible than usual because it’s timed with the new moon.
For the sky’s most dedicated stargazers, the best time to watch will be at 4 a.m., when up to 100 meteors per hour should be visible, according to NASA.
The shower’s name comes from the constellation Perseus, which is where all the meteors appear to come from. In actuality, the meteors come from trails of dust left by comets as they circle the sun. When these bits of comet dust (or meteors) come in contact with the earth’s atmosphere, they burn up and become the shooting stars we love to see.
According to AccuWeather, people in states like Nevada, Montana or Kentucky will have the best view of the meteor shower. Because of the darker, moonless sky that night, visibility should still be fair in South Florida, but those who can get away from the city lights will likely see the most meteors.
In Jupiter, get away from the lights by heading west or east. Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area has great places to park your car to view the shower. Bring pillows and blankets and watch from your sunroof, or set up chairs and watch with a cup of coffee.
Alternatively, head to the beach if you want to see the shower with the salt breeze in your hair. Park near Marcinski Beach and bring towels down to the sand. Make sure you have plenty of snacks and a red-light flashlight—you may stumble upon nesting sea turtles while you’re there.
(Image via Flickr/Dave Dugdale)
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